Krzysztof Pabian is a Chicago—based acoustic & electric bass player, improviser, producer & composer.
Krzysztof hails from his native Poland as a classically-trained bassist. Since coming to United States he has mastered his instrumental facility and musical sensibility with the best teachers and players including Chicago Symphony’s Joe Guastafeste, Stephen Lester and Michael Hovnanian, and jazz greats such as Larry Grey, what is dramatically illuminated in the technical and improvisational arena of his playing.
While studying at Roosevelt University and later at renewed Northwestern University, where he graduated with two Masters degrees in classical and jazz music, he participated in several major music festivals such as Spoleto USA and Spoleto Italy, where he performed and recorded for various musical groups. He has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and for several years was a member of Civic Orchestra of Chicago and an array of new music ensembles working with such conductors as Pierre Boulez, Daniel Barenboim, Christoph Eschenbach, Lawrence Foster, Zubin Mehta, Sir Georg Solti, Robert Spano, Christopher Wilkins, Pinchas Zukerman.
While at Northwestern he had a chance to study and play with visiting artists such as Max Roach, Danilo Perez, Peter Erskine, Judy Roberts, Ron Blake and Lincoln Center Jazz Sextet.
He shared the stage in various groups and settings with artists such as Eddie Henderson, Hamid Drake, Mars Williams, Jeb Bishop, Michael Zerang, Dave Rempis, Jason Stein, KT Sullivan, Jon Weber, Mark Walker, Dan Phillips, Ernie Adams, Howard Levy, Rusty Jones, Jarek Smietana, Adam Czerwinski, Jim Baker, Avreeayl Ra, Tim Daisy and Tim Mulvenna among others.
While focusing on improvisational approach, he navigates seamlessly between jazz and classical techniques that contributes for his unique sound and approach.
Krzysztof also produces, mixes and writes for other artists out of his Oknomedia recording studio.